GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Law enforcement hoping to put the brakes on neighborhood shootings has led to Grand Rapids District Court being inundated by cases that have a number of young men looking at life sentences.

But the mother of a pair of men in the Kent County Jail says it is unfair that these men are forced to either put themselves or their families in danger of retaliation or sit behind bars.

Over the past week, more than a half-dozen young men have been charged with perjury as a result of investigations conducted by Assistant Kent County Prosecutor Kellie Koncki and the Gang Task Force – made up of area law enforcement personnel.

“This is one of several cases related to 12-plus shootings in Kent County,” Koncki said Friday as 21-year-old Deundray Woods waived his probable cause hearing on a charge of perjury.

Koncki said Woods is not one of the shooters, but police believe he and the others charged with perjury know about guns used in crimes and where to find them. She said there have also been incidents of intimidation and threats made against those who may talk to police.

Koncki said the defendants will remain in jail until they decide to cooperate with what they know about guns used in various shootings that are dangerous regardless of the fact that they have not necessarily caused harm.

Johnnie Mae Taylor has two boys she raised swept up in the investigation, son Jaylen Woods and stepson Jahan Kendall, both 19.

She said both young men have been charged with minor untruths told during an investigative subpoena hearing. She said one of the boys lied about when he arrived at a barber shop and now faces a $100,000 bond.

“To get their bonds raised so high to make them talk when they don’t know anything, that’s not fair,” said Taylor. “It’s like you want them to make up a lie.”

Courtesy PhotoDeundray Woods

Kendall’s attorney Daniel Elve said the use of high bonds has defenders worried about protecting the rights of their clients.

“The defense is not happy with the leverage the prosecutor’s using,” Elve said. “The perjury charge can be totally unrelated to any crime investigated but they sit in jail on a $150,000 bond. It’s a tough situation.”

Elve and Taylor say fear of retaliation for Southeast Side gang members plays a large role in their reluctance to testify.

“Are the police going to post a guard outside the houses of these teens who testify?” said Mike Mondy, president of the Michigan Citizens for the Truth and a bail bond agent.

“If they think they can keep these boys locked up and they’ll talk – that’s not going to happen,” said Mondy.

Mondy said the fact that these defendants are black is cause for concern and if the same acts were being committed in the white or Hispanic community, it would not be tolerated.

“We have to come up with a different way,” said Mondy, adding that there is a deep distrust of police among African-Americans in Grand Rapids and the sweep of what he says is more than 20 black teens does not help. “You cannot protect and serve through intimidation.”

Mondy said there is a real fear that police will not protect the black community if someone “snitches” to police.

Koncki would not comment on the perjury case as it unfolds, but she said, in general, there is a range of rationales that keeps people from testifying.

“My opinion is that, in general, people refuse to testify because it is someone they care about,” said Koncki. “It’s not because they are afraid of repercussions.”

“I have never asked anyone to do anything other than testify truthfully,” she said.

So far, all charged with perjury have waived their probable cause hearings -- which moves the cases from district court of circuit court where lawyers and prosecutors will continue to negotiate.